The southbound lanes between the Fremont Bridge and the Marquam Bridge are still
going to be closed from 11 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday.

But after two weekend closures, the agency
said enough repaving work is done that crews will be able to keep access from westbound I-84
to southbound I-5 open for 12 hours on Saturday and Sunday.

During the first weekend of closures, all west I-84 traffic was squeezed into a single lane and
detoured onto the Fremont Bridge via I-5 northbound.

On the second closure weekend, last
weekend, the westbound I-84 ramp to I-5 was opened for about seven hours both
Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the busiest weekend times.

As a result, the Banfield
has been a major ordeal for weekend commuters.

Don Hamilton, an Oregon Department
of Transportation spokesman, said westbound I-84 traffic will be allowed to
exit onto I-5 south and to also get onto the Morrison Bridge from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
both days.

Of course, on the weekend of Aug. 18,
northbound I-5 closures start for the $3.8 million repaving project.

At that point, westbound I-84 traffic won't be as hospitable.
Motorists trying to get onto I-5 northbound will likely have to back track across the
Marquam onto I-405 north and across the Fremont.

Overnight closures of the aging
stretch of I-5 will also continue through the week.

In some cases, the running weeknight
closures are causing confusion.

Last Friday, late-night commuter
Lisa Brown sent an email to Hard Drive: "I am not sure where the communication
is breaking down but I-5 southbound was closed -- all lanes -- at the Rose Quarter
last night (Thursday). It doesn't start tonight it started last night (I was on
it around 11:40 pm.) Just fyi."

Here's the story: ODOT is
conducting much of the prep work for the weeked, as well as some of paving and
grinding from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the week. Highway planners say closures have minimal impact at those
hours and prevent additional weekend closures before the autumn rains hit.

Of course, some motorists complain
that ODOT is a little too eager with putting out signs about the road work.

"I drove into Portland on I-5
south (Thursday) evening at 7:10 pm and was very confused about whether the
Rose Quarter exit was actually open," wrote reader Dave Brook.

"On the way, I
called 511 (ODOT TripCheck) and their messages were confusing," he said in an email. "The reader boards on I-5 were of little help
- advising me that 'I-5 closed 2 miles ahead' but not listing even the exit
number (I understand they've got limited space). The Google Maps traffic overlay showed I-5
south green to the Rose Quarter, which was reassuring so decided to take it. As the Google Traffic indicated - it was
smooth sailing and the exit was open."

Meanwhile, Terry Dunn wrote: "Last
Wednesday night, and on Thursday night the previous week, I was traveling South
in that area. Both times cones were out
closing the left lane, display signs flashed that I-5 was closed and to use
405. ... Of course none of that was true
at the time."

As a result, Dunn said in an email
that he witnessed "cars unnecessarily swerving with confusion and in numerous
close calls."